Lighting fixture



A. E. SPINETTA LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Oct. 28, 1963 Oct. 25, 1966 United States Patent 3,281,588 LIGHTING FIXTURE Anthony E. Spinetta, 51 Pinewood Road, Manhasset, N.Y. Filed Oct. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 319,311 6 Claims. (Cl. 240-5111) This invention relates to lighting fixtures and more specifically to a novel and improved lighting fixture construction and method for mounting said fixture within a recess in a hung ceiling.

One object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved electric lighting fixture characterized by its simplicity of assembly and ease of installation and maintenance.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a fluorescent lighting fixture having novel and improved means for supporting the socket and wireway assemblies.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved fixture closure assem bly and means for securing it to the fixture.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved fixture mount for removable securing within a recessed ceiling opening.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved fluorescent light fixture characterized by its dependability, reliability and relatively low cost.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of a lighting fixture in accordance with the invention and installed within a ceiling opening.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken generally along the line 2-2 thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken along the line 33 thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 2 taken along the line 4-4 thereof.

FIGURES S and 6 are cross-sectional views of FIG- URE 1 taken along the lines 5-5 and 6-6 thereof.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIGURES 1 and 2, the lighting fixture in accordance with the invention includes a body or shell generally denoted by the numeral 10 having a top wall 11 and inclined side walls 12. and 13. Each of the inclined side walls 12 and 13 carries along its lower edge a vertical wall portion 14 terminating in a horizontally disposed channel extending outwardly from the wall portion 14 and having parallel legs 15 and 16 connected by a vertical wall 17. The leg 16 extends inwardly beyond the wall portion 14 and has an upwardly inclined lip 18.

The housing further includes a pair of end panels 19 having a configuration corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration of the walls 11, 12 and 13 and the sloping side portions of the end panel are each provided with flanges 20 and 20 which overlie the wall portions 12 and 13 and are secured thereto by suitable screws 21. Each end of the side wall portions 14 is provided with an opening 22 to receive indents 23 on the flanges 20' of the end panels to provide a firm attachment of the side walls 12 and 13 to the end panels 19. The end panels further include an additional flange 24 along the top edge with the inner edge of each flange 24 carrying an inwardly extending offset flange portion 24' which is inclined upwardly as shown in FIGURE 2 for the purpose of mounting the sockets generally denoted by the numeral 3 ,281,588 Patented Get. 25, 1966 25. Screws 26a extend through the ends of the top wall 11 and thread-ably engage the flanges 24.

The socket mount 26 is of channel-like configuration having a top leg 27, a vertical leg 28 and a bottom horizontal leg 29, the latter having cutouts 30 to receive the downwardly extending shanks 25' of the sockets 25. When the sockets are placed in the cutouts as shown in FIGURE 2 and the leg 27 of the channel 26 is interposed between the offset flange portion 24 and the top wall 11, then tightening the screws 26a will secure the sockets firmly in place with the shanks 25' of the sockets 25 resting firmly against the inner faces of the end walls 19. With this arrangement, any number of sockets may be firmly and securely fixed in place by two screws which secure the end panels 19 to the fixture body.

A central wireway 31 extends throughout the length of the fixture and accommodates the wiring for the sockets 25 as well as the ballast customarily used with fluorescent lamps such as lamps 32 shown in the drawings. The wireway31 has a plurality of slots 33 at spaced intervals along each edge thereof and the top wall 11 has two sets of downwardly and inwardly inclined tabs 34 punched from the wall material. With this arrangement and with the channel 31 having side walls which incline outwardly a distance greater than the distance between the tabs 34, the wireway can be installed merely by compressing the side walls until it fits between the tabs 34 and then, with the tabs 34 aligned with the openings 33, permitting expansion of the wireway to firmly engage the tabs. This action will be observed more clearly in FIGURES 1 and 6. Each of the socket mounting members 26 has a suitable opening 26' aligned with the wireway 31 for the purpose of accommodating the wires from the sockets and interconnecting them with the ballast and energy supply brought into the wireway.

The front closure of the fixture thus far described is generally denoted by the numeral '35 and gives the effect of a rimless closure. In the instant embodiment of the invention, the closure is in the form of a translucent or transparent plate 37 of glass or other suitable material, though it will become apparent that the configuration now to be described may be utilized for holding any type ofclosure such as open grids and the like. The side elements of the closure 35 are generally denoted by the numeral 37 and are in the general form of outwardly facing channels having an upper leg 38, a vertical leg 39 and a lower horizontal leg 40. The leg 40 is somewhat longer than the leg 38 and terminates in a down wardly extending V-shaped portion 41 with the inwardly extending portion of the V being in spaced relationship to the leg 40 for the purpose of receiving the lens 36 as illustrated.

The end sections of the closure which may be observed more clearly in FIGURE 2 are generally denoted by the numeral 42 and are in the shape of an inwardly facing channel having a top leg 43, a vertical leg 44 and a bottom horizontal leg 45. The top leg 43 has an upwardly extending flange 46 thereon having an opening 47 on at least one end thereof to receive the lower hook 49 of a wire hinge 50. The end sections 42 of the closure have tabs 51 on each end thereof for securing the end sections to the side sections 37. For convenience in installation of the lens 36, the tabs 51 are secured to the side sections 37 by means of screws 52.

When the front closure is in the open position, it is supported by the wire hinges 50 on the ends thereof. As previously described, the lower end of each hinge 50 has a hook 49 engaging an opening in the end of the flange 46. The upper end 53 of the wire hinge 50 engages an opening 54 formed in the center of an embossment 55 in the end Wall 19. The action of the hinge is shown more clearly in FIGURE 1 which illustrates in dotted a) outline the procedure for opening the front closure. When the front closure is in the closed position, the inner inclined leg of the V-shaped portion 41 on each side of the closure rests on an inclined flange 18 as previously described. Since the lens 36 extends into the V-shaped portion 41, the fixture gives the appearance of having a frameless closure.

To remove the closure from the position shown in FIGURE 1, the righthand side of the closure as shown in FIGURE 1 is lifted slightly to clear the inclined flange 18. It is then shifted to the left as illustrated in dotted outline, and thereupon, the right side of the closure is then lowered Until the closure is in a vertical position and is fully supported by the wire hinges 50.

The fixture in accordance with the invention includes improved mounting means which facilitates installation in a recessed opening of a ceiling and particularly a hung ceiling. For this purpose, the vertically disposed portion 14 of the side walls 20 is provided with a plurality of tabs 56 formed by cutting the side wall in such a manner that the tabs 56 can be pushed outwardly as illustrated in FIGURE 5. For convenience in extending or retracting the tabs 56, each tab is provided with an opening 57 for the receipt of suitable tool. Any number of tabs 56 may be provided along each side of the fixture, though it has been found that three or four tabs on each side is adequate for the support of the fixture in the manner now to be described.

Referring more specifically to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a ceiling -8 of a suitable tile 59 which is supported by conventional T bars 60 attached to supporting rods 61. The lower ends of the T bars 60 have transverse flanges 62 for engagement of cooperating slots in the ceiling tile 59 as illustrated. To install the lighting fixture in the opening-defined spaced parallel T bars 60, the front closure 35 is preferably removed from the fixture by disengagement of the wire hinges St The fixture is then inserted in the opening with the wall portion 15 of the side walls flush against the bottom of the transverse or horizontal flanges 62 of the T bars 60. This bring the lower peripheralv edge 16 of the fixture in substantially coplanar relationship with the lower face of the ceiling tile 59. With the fixture held in this position, the tabs 56 are then pushed outwardly to engage the upper faces of the adjoining T bar flanges 62 shown in FIGURE 1 and thereby securely hold the fixture in position. To remove the fixture, it is merely necessary to insert a screw driver or other similar tube in the tab opening 57 and return the the flange to a position in alignment with the wall 14.

After the fixture has been installed as described above, the front closure 35 is then secured in position in the fixture by connection of the wire hinges 56.

Two or more fixtures may be positioned in side-by-side relationship as also illustrated in FIGURE 1. In the righthand portion 'of this figure, it will be observed that when two fixtures are placed in adjoining relationship the adjoining sides of the fixtures are supported by the same T bars 60, and in so doing, the bottom 'facings 116 of the two fixtures meet to form what appears to be a unitary element bridging the area between the lenses of the adjoining fixtures. It is also evident from the foregoing description that the fixtures may also be placed in endto-end relationship and thereby provide a convenient means for forming a lighted ceiling.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is apparent that alterations, modifications and changes may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluorescent fixture comprising an elongated essentially rectangular housing having a top and side walls, said side walls. each having at least a portion thereof disposed in a vertical plane, flanged end walls secured to said top and side walls with the top flanges on said end walls underlying said top wall, a pair of socket supporting channels disposed in parallel relationship to said top wall and at each end thereof, the legs of said channel being disposed in horizontal planes with the upper leg positioned between said top flange and topwall, the bottom leg of said channel including a plurality of cutouts for reception of fluorescent lamp sockets each having an enlarged base portion disposed within said channel and a narrowed neck portion extending downwardly through a cutout and having at its lower end terminal means for connection and support of a fluorescent lamp and tabs carried by said vertical side wall portions and bendable outwardly to engage horizontal fixture supporting ledges.

2. A fluorescent lighting fixture according to claim 1 wherein the lower edges of said vertical side wall portions carry inwardly and upwardly inclined edges and said fixture further includes a closure therefor, said closure having downwardly extending V-shaped portions along at least two edges for engagement with said upwardly inclined edges to support the closure therebetween.

3. A fluorescent li-ghtinn fixture according to claim 1 including a wireway extending between said socket supporting channels and being in the shape of a trough, a plurality of tabs carried by said top wall and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, said tabs being arranged in two parallel arrays and spaced apart a distance less than the width of said wireway and said wireway including a plurality of openings on each edge thereof for engagement with the last said tabs, said wireway being engaged with said tabs by displacing the side walls inwardly to clear the inner ends of the tabs and then releasing the pressure on the side walls permitting them to move outwardly int-o fixed engagement with the tabs.

4. A fluorescent fixture for support within a hung ceiling having parallel disposed T bars, each of said T bars having horizontal ledges extending from the sides thereof, a housing having top, side and end walls, lighting means within said housing, a lower portion of each of said side walls being disposed in a substantially vertical plane, a plurality of tabs formed in each of said vertical side wall portions and adapted to be bent outwardly along vertical axis, frame-like elements extending along the lower edges of each of said side walls, each frame-like element comprising a horizontal portion extending outwardly from its side wall horizontal portion extending outwardly from its side wall a distance approximately equal to the width of one flange on said T bar then downwardly and inwardly beyond said side Wall and tenminating in an upwardly and inwardly inclined flange, sa-id horizontal portion of each frame-like element being spaced from the lower edges of said tabs a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the T bar flanges, and a closure for said housing having means along opposing edges thereof for engagement with the inner surfaces of said inwardly and upwardly inclined flanges.

5. A fluoroescent fixture according to claim 4 wherein one side of said closure is supported by wire hinges connected between the closure frame and said housing, said hinges permitting the opposing edge of said closure to be raised and the entire closure shifted sidewise and then lowered to an open position supported entirely by said hinges.

6. A fluorescent fixture comprising an elongated essentially rectangular housing having a top and side walls, said side walls each having at least a portion thereof disposed in a vertical plane, flanged end walls secured to said top and side walls with the top flanges on said end walls underlying said top wall, a pair of socket supporting channels disposed in parallel relationship to said top wall and at each end thereof, the legs of said channel being disposed in horizontal planes with the upper leg positioned between said top flange and top wall, the bottom leg of 63011 flange including a plurality of cutouts for re ception of fluorescent lamp sockets each having an enlarged base portion disposed Within said channel and a narrowed neck portion extending downwardly through a cutout and having at its lower end terminal means for connection and support of a fluorescent lamp, tabs carried by said vertical side wall portions and bendable outwardly to engage horizontal fixture supporting ledges, said housing further including means on and extending throughout the lengths of said vertical side wall portions, the last said means terminating in inwardly and upwardly inclined flanges, a closure for said housing comprising a peripheral frame, at least two edges of said frame having upwardly and inwardly inclined flanges along the edges thereof, said closure flanges engaging said housing flanges to support said closure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Naysmith 2405 1.1 1

Broadwin 240-7 8 Rosenblatt et a1. 240-51.11

Guth 24051.11

Pascucci.

Golko 240-5 1.11

Henning 240-5 1.11

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

15 C. R. RHODES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FLUORESCENT FIXTURE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ESSENTIALLY RECTANGULAR HOUSING HAVING A TOP AND SIDE WALLS, SAID SIDE WALLS EACH HAVING AT LEAST A PORTION THEREOF DISPOSED IN A VERTICAL PLANE, FLANGED ON SAID END SAID TOP AND SIDE WALLS WITH THE TOP FLANGES ON SAID END WALLS UNDERLYING SAID TOP WALL, A PAIR OF SOCKET SUPPORTING CHANNELS DISPOSED IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP TO SAID TOP WALL AND AT EACH END THEREOF, THE LEGS OF SAID CHANNEL BEING DISPOSED IN HORIZONTAL PLANES WITH THE UPPER LEG POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID TOP FLANGE AND TOP WALL, THE BOTTOM LEG OF SAID CHANNEL INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CUTOUTS FOR RECEPTION OF FLUORESCENT LAMP SOCKETS EACH HAVING AN ELONGATED BASE PORTION DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CHANNEL AND A NARROWED NECK PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH A CUTOUT AND HAVING AT ITS LOWER END TERMINAL MEANS FOR CONNECTION AND SUPPORT OF A FLUORESCENT LAMP AND TABS CARRIED BY SAID VERTICAL SIDE WALL PORTIONS AND BENDABLE OUTWARDLY TO ENGAGE HORIZONTAL FIXTURE SUPPORTING LEDGES. 